Engine performance indicator



19, 1952 v. WALLER 2,607,314

ENGINE PERFORMANCE INDICATOR Filed May 22. 1947 Inventor "0 Vern L. Waller I A I '0 in y WW Em i atenteci Aug. 19, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 ENGINE PERFORMANCE INDICATOR Vern L. Waller, Tacoma, Wash.

Application May 22, 1947, Serial No. 749,840

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in engine performance indicators for internal combustion engines of automobiles and other motor-driven vehicles to indicate the efficiency in the operation of their engines during vehicle operational periods and to combinewith such indicators collapsible animal or-other figures, the motions of which serve to accurately reflect and positively indicate engine performance and at the same time afford amusement to the occupants of the vehicles.

Another principal object of the invention is the provision of an engine performance indicator for an-internal combustion engine employing an intake manifold and/or an automatic spark advance line, which indicator is responsive to the slightest fluctuations or variations of vacuum in such manifold or line and which is adaptable to be rapidly and readily installed in a prominent position upon its automotive vehicle to visually and continually register such fluctuations during vehicle operational periods.

A further important and essential object is to provide an engine performance indicator adaptable, during its permanent installation upon an automotive vehicle and the internal combustion engine of same, to be accurately adjusted and carefully set for approximately the maximum vacuum developed in the intake manifold and/or automatic spark advance line of said engine at idling speed, this in order to reflect the ideal operation of such engine during vehicle operational periods from the standpoint of economy and operating efficiency of the same, and also to warn thevehicle operator that engine adjust- 2 Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, refer-- ence being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

ments or repairs are necessary as and when a departure from said ideal operation occurs.

A still further important and vital object is to provide an internal combustion engine vacuum responsive performance indicator, the actions and movements of which reflects engine throttle setting; engine load or condition; fuel consumption; approximately horse-power drawn from the engine; and the effect of altitude upon the latter.

It is also an object of the invention to construct the figure in a; manner to assume various grotesque positions in accordance with variations in the engineperformance.

' A further object of theinvention is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, whichis efficient and reliable in operation, relatively'inexpensive to manufacture and which'oth'erwise is well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

vehicle operator to interpret the Figure 1 is a perspective view of the engine performance indicator comprehended by the invention, as itwould appear when operatively mounted upon the instrument panel of an automotive vehicle;

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective viewof the indicator with the indicating device or figure of same shown in a vacuum activated and tensioned position;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2 with the indicating device or figure shown activated in full lines and deactivated in dotted lines; and

Figure 4 is a horizontal section of the indicator taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Before taking up the more detailed description of thepresent invention, it should be here stated, that hitherto, when the eficiency and/or performance of an automotive vehicle internal combustion engine of the type employing spark ignition was to be ascertained and determined, it has been customary and necessary to employfdial gauges and other instrumentalities and the services of skilled automotive mechanics to secure reasonably accurate and true findings of such efliciency and/or performance. Hence, it is the peculiar intent and particular purpose of this invention to dispense with the need 'of the afore mentioned dial gauges and other instrumentalities together with the services of said skilled mechanics and in lieu thereof and as substitute therefor to provide a simplified and efficient engine performance indicator having permanent connection and communication with the engine intake manifold and/or automatic spark advance line, and which when operatively installed or mounted upon an automotive vehicle reduire's no especial skill or qualification on the part of the engine conditions reflected thereby. 1

As stated above, the present engine perform ance indicator has permanent connection and communication with the; engine intake, manifold and/or automatic spark advance line, this in order that the slightest change or variationin sub-atmospheric pressure 'or degree of vacuum in the engine intake manifold or spark advance line will be. instantly and positively registered by the indicator, and when it is borne in mind that the subatmospheric pressures or degrees of vacuum in the engine intake manifold or spark advance line reflects. at all times during engine and vehicle operational periods, the accurate and true eificiency and performance of the engine and the conditions existing therein, and when such pressures or degrees are translated into movements by the indicating device of the indicator, any unskilled person can easily and readily understand the meaning and/orinterpret the significance of each and every movement of said device under various driving conditions.

Accordingly, the present invention essentially resides and is more particularly concerned in the provision of an internal combustion engine performance indicator, which in its preferredembodiment is characterized by the employment of vacuum responsive means having permanent connection and communication with the intake manifold or automatic spark advance line of its associated en ne and. articulated c lapsi fi ure or other n icat n device fle ib y connected to. and co-op ratinewithsaid vacuu re sponsive. ngeans. whereh re ti nso the' atte t i ar i de ees of. vacu m created. or occurrine in said ma i old o ad ance line eell ess id fi ur ord vie to a sume. ar o s. po it ons. ea h of which. enotesand reflectse. specific de ree. o vacuum an in. n eo en e her ef in orms he h cle operato wh ther th en ne peratin eificiently or inefiiciently.

Rei r in new to t ed aw ng n detail wher in. for the p p se o llust ati n. hav hi closed ne em d men .v f the in ention he numeral 5 designates a jointed animal figure e erally whi h in l des a body head Lt l .;and l ss. 9.. Co ds. l or other l b e m nu hers exten freely throug o en n s. H in the y a d throughthe sections. of the. head. a and legs to loosely connect he sam to the; body- The figure his supp ed on uhasel ha ins-openi s t therein or ree ivin the. low r ends of the cords 1D; for attaching the cords to a piston or plunger I; which includes a flexible Wash r 15. w king in a cylinder H5 in the aself-he u p r end o h c li der 1 isclosed by th eaded lus. ll and. a. passaselt: commun catesw tht e wer-porti n o the cylind r be? eeth th pi ton. the passa havin a. uction l n l9 e achetithe to. and wh ch leads to the intake nifold. r au omaticsparh. dva ce line or an internal combustion. engine (not shown). .nh ic i nezll isp ltio edin the inr' e '6 un h piston .tu'r ise the piston when suction is released or decreased, 7

A conventional type of rubber suction cup Zl is suitably secured to the bottom of the base I2 the by m s W h t e b se and; annual figu Supportedherecn a be. mount d on. e su eb s por in s c ure such as the. in -tru ment panel 2 of au mo e r other-pictordriven vehicle.

In the operation of the device, the spring- 2,9 will move the piston l4 upwardly in, the cylinder l6 when the engine, to which the. suction line I9 is attached, is not running, whereby the cords l0 will be slacked and permit the sections of the head 1., tail 8. and legs 9. to collapse, as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 3 of'the drawing.

When the engine is started, the suction in the intake. manifold pulls the piston l4 downwardly the cylinder and causes the cords to be pulled est to thus s ra h n t s ctio s of h head, e end s u j p.v hol such par s i n ishg position as own by the fu ihes i Fi ure usually due to sticky valves.

Accordingly, variations in the operation of the engine, such as the constant changing in the power output of the engine due to traflic conditions or the travel of the automobile up and down grades, the suction or vacuum developed by the engine will vary, thus causing the figure to perform various amusing motions and to assume various grotesque positions. Likewise, the figure will serve as an indicator of the engine performance by its movements and actions when the engine is not running smoothly or efficiently due to various causes, and thus warn the driver of the need for adjustment or repairs.

The present engine performance indicator when employed with and installed upon an automotive vehicle internal combustion engine functions, as. hereinbefore stated, to reflect engine condition; fuel consumption; horse-power or enginel load; and effect of altitude on the engine, each of which for sake of clarity will now be individually described,

Under the. ea ng of eng ne c ndition: the ndic to c an do s. refl t maladj s men o the s ur-h. car re o or im r. nd/or defective parts oi he. sam lso efl cts w r p to rings; burned, warped or sticky valves; leaky engine heart and/ ca u tor g skets; n o rect orim= prop r valve clearance o ged mu mpr pe ue mixt r s. and so on nd so for h. Sta ed herw se. or a r c ier nd tand n o he e o he ndica or. in reflect ng eng ne When; he ar iculat d figure 5. or equivalent indicating qev eis tr i ht and steady during engine. o erational pe iod he sam s indicative. of pr per. en ine opera ion. Whe he a t cu a ed figu e shiy rsv du in gin idling s eeds. hu s eady a e ine workin speeds. s ch.shiyerinczor ina ily denot s oose val e ste n uides; ex e t n the. ca e. o ou cyl nder n i s ue shive ng. vib a i n s norma the head and/or tail oi h r icula ed fierure weaves, such a tion; or. motion. usua y india es e her faulty i nition tim'ng. b eaker in or distributor out. oi synchr n sm. spark. lug apsset two. lose. r too. r as mi ure. When the. articulated fi u e is stra ht and. steady at engincid ine speeds. hut s ak s or i r t s at n in a n p eds such shak n or vi. normally. denotes weakzizalve spr n s.-

the srtie listed fi re -po sandialters occasion ly his rdinarily indi at sl an or poor gesn ture- When the. articulat d fi ur remains strai ht: bu Jerks occasionally. uch. er ing. is

the a ticua ed.v fi ure drops re ula l such. action. rdinarily s nd ca e, ei-eithe ur-ne h p ed... r ed l es. end/ r seats; r: hsuf c en ppetqlearance. When; heavy regular drops of the articulated figure occurs, such drops. are usually due to either leaky head gasket and-[or com; prefSflonleak between the pistons and their .0. related cylinders. When the articulated figure. is tr ight. or ro py at en e idlin speeds. or.v is sl i r eht n rup after he t rot le peda has been repeatedly depressed or pumped, such a i ns a e usual due to a h ke muf l n- A in on lusi n, a ontinuous dr opy s ate. i. the r a sure'me indi ate any. oi the. tel.- low c d s; vacuum eelssinthe nd cator bas r connee inglin s i -same; p or onni r sion. due, t co ed cyl nderv we l or pist s an r w r pist n ri s; ig iti ncu ot hne ault valve i in leaky carbure ors; int ke m nifold, a k t u ne ou heat r ser; and excessive altitudes, as hereinafter more ful ly s t forth.

Under the heading of fuel consumption: the present indicator reflects excessive fuel consumption and poor driving habits of automotive vehicle operators, by the weaving of the head and/ or tail of the articulated figure when the fuel mixture is unduly and unnecessarily rich, or by the drooping or faltering of such figure when the fuel mixture is too lean or poor.

Under the heading of horse-power or engine load: the present indicator durin operational periods of the engine reflects the horse-power developed by the same under various driving conditions, as for example, when the maximum engine horse-power is developed the articulated figure 5 is completely collapsed for the reason that the engine throttle opening varies with the horse-power developed by the engine.

Under the heading of altitude and its effect upon the engine: the articulated figure 5 at relatively high altitudes is normally in a semi-collapsed state due primarily tothe low or reduced atmospheric pressures at such altitudes, which low pressures conjointly with the consequent abnormal lower vacuum in the engine intake manifold or automatic spark advance line cause the normal semi-collapse of the articulated figure. In this connection, it should be borne in mind, that with every thousand feet rise in altitude the vacuum in the engine intake manifold or spark advance line decreases approximately one inch.

In the accompanying drawings and in the foregoing description I have shown and described the present engine performance indicator as operatively mounted upon the instrument board 22 of the automotive vehicle, in which location such indicator is in full view and driving vision of the operator of said vehicle. However, I desire to have it understood that I do not wish to be specifically confined to such location, inasmuch as, in certain instances and installations the indicator has been utilized as a hood ornament and accordingly in these circumstances is centrally located on the forward portion of the vehicle hood. Again, in other installations the present indicator has been utilized as an ornament for the rear end of the vehicle, in which event it is operatively mounted at any desirable or suitable location on said rear end.

When the herein described engine performance indicator is employed upon automotive vehicles having vacuum operated windshield wipers, said indicator is teed into the vacuum line connecting the engine intake manifold or automatic spark advance line and the windshield wiper of the specific automotive vehicle. However, when the present indicator is employed on automotive vehicles having booster or vacuum pumps and/or electric windshield wipers, said indicator in the first instance is connected to the engine intake manifold or to the manifold side of the booster or vacuum pump of the vehicle so equipped, while, in the second instance the indicator is connected directly to the engine intake manifold. In either of these instances the indicator may be selectively connected to any of the various plugs or fittings carried by the engine intake manifold.

In the instant disclosure, I have elected to show and describe an articulated or jointed figure, such as the simulation of a horse, as the visual and continual indicating device 5 of the indicator, however, I desire to have it understood, that such showing is merely by way of illustration, inasmuch as, various other devices or apparatus may be employed for such purpose.

Manifestly, therefore, the engine performance indicator of the present invention is extremely compact and durable in construction; is thoroughly practical and serviceable in use; will not readily get out of order; and requires no special or particular skill on the part of the vehicle operator to interpret the gyrations of the same.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and within the scope of'the appended claims.

What I claim as new is: r

In combination with the vacuum producing means of an internal combustion engine, of an engine performance indicator comprising a support member having a chamber therein permanently connectedto and freely communicating with said vacuum producing means; a vacuum responsive member operatively disposed within said chamber; a collapsible simulation of an animal flexibly connected to said responsive member for activation thereby during engine operational periods for visually and continually indicating vacuum fluctuations occurring within said vacuurn producing means; and spring means for biasing said vacuum responsive member towards its inactive position upon cessation of vacuum action to thereby effect collapse of said animal simula- 'ion.

VERN L. WALLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,0431514 Drexler Nov. 5, 1912 1,867,698 Harris July 19, 1932' 1,874,694 Broce Aug. 30, 1932 1,926,180 Rutherford Sept. 12, 1933 2,421,279 Marty May 27, 1947 2,455,430 Luckhaupt Dec. 7, 1948 2,463,355 Buchmann Mar. 1, 1949 

